I am hoping next week as I dislike both of them. Their dances leave me cold and bored. And I want to see the judges/this board have a meltdown.

I hope to see it in the final.

Me too

Me three

Me four

Me five

Let's look at the possibilities.
No ties next week. Judges award:

Ali 5
Ricky 4
Laila 3
Chris 2
Natalie 1

Public:
Chris 5
Natalie 4
Laila 3
Ali 2
Ricky 1

Combined
Chris 7
Ali 7
Laila 6
Ricky 5
Natalie 5

So I can see one of them in a dance-off but never both. Not unless the judges do a major volte-face.

Whichever way you look at it they won't both lose judges' votes at the same time. And Ricky has never been in the dance-off so he is popular with viewers too. Or popular-ish. It is mathematically possible, of course. I absolutely cannot see it happening though.

I have decided that, since they are both in it until the end, I have to learn to like them as I shall be seeing a lot more of them.

Me six

I agree. It will be one of them but not both and if that happens I think it's more likely to be Ali.

It won't happen next week. Laila's not popular or good enough to overturn both Ali and Ricky's scores with the judges. I'd say she's a cert for the DO next time although it could well be with either Ali or Ricky.

The following week is possible though (although not tremendously likely). If the marks go

1. Ali
2. Ricky
3. Natalie
4. Chris

and the public votes

1. Chris
2. Natalie
3. Ricky
4. Ali

Other scenarios are possible too but the only way the top two with the judges can both be in the dance off is if the public vote is diametrically opposite.

If the judges put any ties in the leaderboard that favours the bottom ones so we might see it then. Otherwise it could be when we get down to 3 in the semi final unless the BBC sort out the 2 couple final before then.

Sorry but Ali V Ricky W in the final would be a complete bore.

Indeed, there would be no gurning, no venus-fly-trap mouth, no begging for higher scores.

Instead, there would be a perfect VW and a nearly-perfect QS, 2 decent Latin dances and two showdances with great lifts and balletic movement.

Snoreville eh?

I didn't account for ties. I have tried to make a virtue out of necessity by learning to like them even though I have been more excited by the prospect of reading the memoirs of John Major (123 pages).

Oh, well. Maybe there is hope that we could lose one. I want Chris to win and I'd quite like Cassidy in the final just to give one in the eye to the Nat-hatahs.

I hope for it every week.

I don't mind Ali although she seems a bit bland and a personality free zone. She does dance beautifully though when she sets her mind to it and Brian is a good professional.

Ricky doesn't register much on my radar I find him a bit of a non-entity but it is his partner I cannot bear, She just sets my teeth on edge, and is such a show off. Everything has to be over the top show off with her - like that dreadful lift this week which didn't complement the dance (clever though it was) it was there because she wanted a "look at me" moment.

The main reason I would like to see them in the dance off is to see the judges choose between them. Would they truly decide on the final dance (as they claimed last week) or take overall performance during the series into consideration (as they did this week). I find the judging and especially the dance off judging to be so inconsistent that an Ali / Ricky dance off would make for interesting viewing.

Me seven

A decent latin dance from Ali I dont think so she hasnt got it in her. Natalie Lowe is a pretty good gurner too and Ricky W has his mouth open nearly all his dances. Ooohhh begging for higher scores who was it wanted a 10 in week 1 oh yes it was Natalie Lowe.

I am pretty sure we will get an Ali/Ricky final if the BBC say we must have a 2 person affair (not so clear cut if its 3 people I dont think as I think the 3rd person would knock out either Ali or Ricky after the first vote) in which case I will be voting for Brian as I like him the most out of the 4 people in those couples.

In the final as it should be hopefully.

I am wondering if Ali and Brian and Natalie and Ricky give themselves team names and slogans, overuse them, plaster them all over their clothing, pull stupid faces when dancing and don't dance to the best of their ability will stop boring and leaving people cold.?? After all this competition is all about "personality" and gimmicks isn't it?

Just my opinion....

me eight! Though quite happy to see Chris and Ola in a three couple final too!

Dr.bolognaise, completely agree with you on the fantastic standard of dancing we would have with both Ali and Ricky making the final

Ali's latin is excellent compared to the other 2 female celebs left there. Laila cannot complete a latin routine without looking down at the floor and Natalie has no concept of the performance of latin. She opens her mouth and hopes for the best.

And I wasnt talking about the professionals in a Ali vs Ricky dance off/final. I prefer to focus on the celebs to be honest.

Brian is lovely, but I dont care if he wins. For me, its about the Celebs.

Yes, Natalie Lowe does gurn a lot. She didnt beg for a 10, she asked if anyone had ever gotten a 10 in the first week. Unlike Natalie C whom every time she is on ITT and on every training VT she goes on about how she wants 7's, then 8's, then 9's and now she wants to win.

Ricky W doesnt have his trap wide open in some inane grin in every dance. He is either smiling, mouth closed, or mouth slightly open. Hardly gurning is it?

Me 8.

Great post.

For me also the competition is about the celebs not the pros. Last night the dancing gulf between Ricky & Ali and the rest was a country mile.


& me 9!

Aleshas bias to Ricky is putting me off him and Nat, and she is pretty stupid tbh because she should know how theres entertainment competitons work, the more you overmark them, the less people are going to vote for them, eventually. Duh.